Very nice, Howy. This is the sword I've been waiting to see. I also agree....very BraveHeart-ish. I love it. Are there any pics of an original? I swear I saw one several years ago, but it's now lost somewhere in web history. Fantastic!!!....I wish I had more hands so I could give you three thumbs up!!..........McM

Very nice! I wonder if the "demi-scabbard" just slides right off or is it somehow attached? Is its purpose just for transporting across the shoulder and would be removed during use, or is it meant to remain in place during a fight? I always assumed it was all leather and essentially permanent, but this feels like perhaps not...

I would like to see some pictures without it. I have seen almost identical Swiss two handers, but this leather/wood demi scabbard really makes it look braveheart-ish. Anyway, I like it very much, of course.

Very nice looking sword. I would have assumed that the demi-scabbard might have been a short scabbard that covered the blade from the tip up to the leather-covered ricasso. Why else would all of the pictures show it with the ricasso covered. Would not a removable ricasso cover have a propensity to remove itself when the sword was swung with a purpose? I may very well be wrong however. Perhaps Mr. Waddell can enlighten us as to the nature of the demi-scabbard."The only thing new in this world is the history we don't know."-Pres. Harry S. Truman

Would not a removable ricasso cover have a propensity to remove itself when the sword was swung with a purpose?

I don't think it is right to call this a ricasso cover, as this sword doesn't technically have a ricasso (being a thickened, blunt length at the base of a blade, as in the type XIX and some XX's (Viceroy, Doge, and such). Looking at the various illustrations that either clearly show or seem to indicate a cover like this, I personally feel pretty sure that it was purely for safe carry, to prevent cutting your neck, hair, or pretty silk clothes that the Landsknechts liked to wear.

The idea of a bunch of these covers flipping across the battlefield at first clash is pretty comical, like my right shoe everytime I try to play soccer...

Howy, any chance you can confirm the semi-existence of a third sword based on this blade? I seem to recall something about an "Archduke" from the Albion Facebook page...

The leather covered base of this sword is an unusual feature. It is something that is depicted in art, showing landsknechts carrying the two hander over the shoulder with a blade that has its forte covered in leather.

There survives many examples of two handers with leather covered ricassos but these have all parrying hooks. From the art work it seems that a leather cover could also be added to the base of a blade that is lacking parrying hooks and possibly also lacking a ricasso.

This leather sleeve or demi scabbard is therefore speculative. We know something like this was seen in the period, but we cannot be 100% sure what it was. Therefore we have opted to offer it with the sword, but the Tyrolean can also be ordered without it. I believe it can also be ordered with the demi scabbard not permanently fixed to the blade.

There is indeed a third design based on this same blade: a large type XIIIa of 13th or early 14th century style.
-A sword for all those large and strong templars out there.
... And of course there is geometry involved.
;-)Attachment: 49.61 KBA clear depiction of a sword lacking parrying hooks, with a leather cover over the forte.Attachment: 88.64 KBA possible case of the same design, although it is possible that there are small parrying hooks hidden behind his shoulder and neck.

I was unfamiliar with the concept of a demi-scabbard and had always thought that the covered portion at the top of the blade was a leather covered ricasso. It is an interesting idea and one can certainly see the application."The only thing new in this world is the history we don't know."-Pres. Harry S. Truman

I was unfamiliar with the concept of a demi-scabbard and had always thought that the covered portion at the top of the blade was a leather covered ricasso. It is an interesting idea and one can certainly see the application.

Hey Benjamin!

The demi-scabbard is made to fit snugly, but is removable on all Tyroleans. We would recommend (particularly in humid environments) to store the sword and demi-scabbard separately in order to avoid the possibility of contact rust.

Oh how very Braveheart I love it. Well done Albion.“This was the age of heroes, some legendary, some historical . . . the misty borderland of history where fact and legend mingle.”
- R. Ewart Oakeshott

Thanks for taking the time to photograph these swords properly.“This was the age of heroes, some legendary, some historical . . . the misty borderland of history where fact and legend mingle.”
- R. Ewart Oakeshott

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